Friday, January 29, 2016

Military Picture Of The Week


According to the daily "On This Day in MIlitary History" feed from Department of History and Heritage, Dept. of Ntl. Defence, on this day, 29 January, in 1936, No. 7 (General Purpose) Squadron was formed at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, on the Ottawa River. 

This photo shows one of two Hawker Tomtit two-seated trainers that were used by the squadron.  According to Harold Skaarup, Canadian Warbirds of the Biplane Era - Trainers, Transports and Utility Aircraft, the RCAF owned two Tomtits, Nos 139 and 140 (shown here).  They had a top speed of 200 km/h and a ceiling of 19,500 feet.  The Tomtit had a reputation as a  sweet plane to fly and remained in RCAF service until 1943.

I especially like the snow on the ground in this photo, and can imagine the discomfort of the ground crew working in a frigid Ottawa winter.

MP+

1 comment:

Diplomatist said...

Can't have been too much fun in an open cockpit either!

Mad Padre

Mad Padre
Opinions expressed within are in no way the responsibility of anyone's employers or facilitating agencies and should by rights be taken as nothing more than one person's notional musings, attempted witticisms, and prayerful posturings.

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